Patient rotator basket for x-ray machine



Dec. 2, 1969 w. J. HOGAN 3,482,094

- PATIENT ROTATOR BASKET FOR X'RAY MACHINE Filed April 27, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mllz'am Jfioyan,

PATIENT ROTATOR BASKET FOR X-RAY MACHINE Filed April 27, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/VI/E/VTOP,

hfilliam J E3921,

Dec. 2, 1969 W. J. HOGAN PATIENT ROTATOR BASKET FOR X-RAY MACHINE Filed April 27, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY @J? @m '4 TTUR/VE Y5.

Dec. 2, 1969 w. J. HOGAN 3,482,094

PATIENT ROTA'IOR BASKET FOR X-RAY MACHINE Filed April 27. 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 4;

l N VEN TOR.

BY I

Dec. 2, 1969 w. J. HOGAN I 3,432,094

PATIENT ROTATOR BASKET FOR X-RAY MACHINE Filed April 27, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 HEAD END INVENTOR.

William lfiajafi,

1969 w. J. HOGAN 3,482,094

PATIENT ROTATOR BASKET FOR X-RAY MACHINE Filed April 27, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 HEAD EN D FIGL 8 M/V-WTOR er f United States Patent m 3,482,094 PATIENT ROTATOR BASKET FOR X-RAY MACHINE -William J. Hogan, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Sybron Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 545,736 Int. Cl. G01n 23/00 U.S. Cl. 250-55 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a cradle or basket in which a patient is strapped or otherwise secured in full length for X-ray examination, and particularly to means for rotating the basket and for supporting the basket.

It is desirable that the basket be pivotal about its short transverse axis so that the patient may be presented to the X-rays in either horizontal or vertical, or in any intermediate position. This as accomplished ordinarily by pivoting the table which supports the basket on its transverse axis.

It is also desirable that the basket be pivotal about its longitudinal axis so that front or side or back or any intermediate portion of the patients body may be presented to the X-rays. This is accomplished by pivoting the basket on its longitudinal axis relative to the supporting table.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide improved means for supporting and pivoting the basket, and for adjusting automatically the position of the basket relative to the X-ray image plane as the basket is pivoted about its longitudinal axis.

The manner in which this object is accomplished, and the advantages of the invention, will become clear from the following description of the presently preferred form of the apparatus.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a simplified end elevational diagram showingthe patient rotator basket in its normal horizontal position in which X-rays from a source located above the basket pass down through the patients body, from front to back;

FIGURE 2 is a simplified end elevational diagram similar 'to FIG. 1showing the patient rotator basket in horizontal position but rotated on its longitudinal axis to an on-the-shoul der position in which the X-rays enter one side of the patients body and leave from the other;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view,.partly in section, of the head end of the table and the head end of the patient rotator basket;

I FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the foot end of the table and foot end of the patient rotator basket;

FIG- 5 is an end elevational view, broken away, of the foot end of the table end and of the patient rotator basket;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view, broken away, of the head end of the table and of the patient rotator basket;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration showing the motor drive means at the head of the table for rotating the patient rotator basket;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration showing the drive 3,482,094 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 means at the foot end of the table for rotating the patient rotator basket; and

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of the patient rotator basket fall-away protection device.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a source of X-rays is positioned to project X-rays down through a diaphragm collimator 92 to an image plane 94. Image plane 94 may be an image amplifier, or a photographic film, or any other suitable image forming device.

Disposed in the field of the X-rays between the collimator 92 and the image 94 is a bed or table which supports the patient rotator basket 30. In the diagram of FIG. 1, the table and basket 30 are seen in elevation, looking at the head end. The reference numeral 22 identifies an upright steel end number at the head of the table. There is a similar upright end member 23 at the foot end of the table. The means for supporting the table is not shown in FIG. 1.

A cam rail 24 is secured, as by welding, to the inner surface of the end member 22. A similar cam rail 25 is provided at the foot end of the table. The basket 30 is supported on the cam rails 24 and 25, as will be described.

The patient rotator basket 30, into which the patient is ordinarily strapped at full length in an on-the-back position, has a curved concave floor 130. The basket 30 is made of material, such as rigid IPlexiglas, which is transparent to X-rays. At each end of the basket 30 is an upright steel end plate 32 and 33. In FIG. 1, end plate 32 at the :head of the basket 30 is seen.

Splined or otherwise secured to the basket and plate 32, at a central location, is a'shaft or trunnion 42. Trunnion 42 passes through a slot 122 in the table end member 22, and is connected to drive means, later described, for driving the trunnion 42 rotationally. A similar trunnion is provided at the foot end of the basket.

Projecting outwardly from the basket end plate 32, in the direction of the table end member 22, are two groups of cam followers. The cam followers of one group are identified by reference numrals 34, 35, 36 and 37, and the cam followers of the other group are identified by the reference numerals 134, 135, 136 and 137.

When-the patient rotator basket 30 is in its normal position, i.e. the position shown in FIG. 1, the basket is supported at the head end of the table on cam rail 24 by the cam followers 34 and 134, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Similarly, at the foot end of the table, the basket when in normal position is supported on a corresponding cam rail 25 by cam followers 38 and 138 secured in the basket foot end plate in positions corresponding to those of cam followers 34 and 134.

In FIG. 2, the patient rotator basket 30 has been rotated clockwise, as viewed from the head end and as compared with FIG. 1, so that the X-rays from source 90 now enter the patients body at the left side and exit at the right side. When the patient rotator basket 30 is rotated from the normal position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, the cam follower 134 moves into engagement with the cam rail 24 before cam follower 134 leaves the rail. In the position shown in FIG. 2, followers 135 and 136 are in engagement with the rail 24 and support the patient rotator basket at the head end. At the foot end, a similar situation exists, and a corresponding pair of cam followers 38 and 138 support the basket.

Returning again to FIG. 1, when the patient rotator basket 30 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, supported on rail 24 by cam followers 34 and 134, the center axis of trunnion 42 is at a distance D from the upper-surface of the cam rail 24, as indicated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, when the rotator basket 30 is in the position shown, supported by the cam followers 135 and 136, the center axis of trunnion 42 is-at a distance D from the upper surface of the cam rail 24, the distance D' being substantially .greater than the distance D, as seen in FIG. 1, where both D and 'D' are shown. The difference between the distances D and D is substantially equal to the difference between the larger dimension C from the center axis of trunnion 42 to the side wall 230 of the basket (see FIG. 1) and the smaller dimension C from the center axis of the trunnion 42 to the floor 130 of the basket. Thus, as the basket is rotated on the trunnion 42 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 2, the trunnion 42 (and also the trunnion 43 at the foot end) is cammed upwardly by an amount sufficient to compensate for the differences in the distances C and C. Thus, in the position shown in FIG. 2, the right side 230 of the rotator basket is closest to the image plane 94, and this distance, identified as E in FIG. 2, is the same, or approximately the same, as the distance E from the image plane 94 to the bottom portion 130 of the basket, when the basket is in the position shown in FIG. 1. Stated briefly, the cam followers, such as 34, 35, 36, 37, and 134, 135, 136, 137, at the head end of the :basket, and corresponding cam followers, 38, 39, 40, 41 and 138, 139, 140, 141, at the foot end of the basket, are so positioned relative to the concave curvature of the floor of the basket, and to the width and depth of the basket, that as the basket is rotated on the trunnions 42 and 43, the cam followers, cooperating with the cam rails 24 at the head end and 25 at the foot end, serve to maintain a substantially uniform distance between the X-ray plane 94 and that portion of the basket 30 which approaches closest to the image plane.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, cam rail 24 at the head end of the table, and the corresponding cam rail 25 at the foot end, are secured, as by welding, to the table upright end members 22 and 23. The table is supported by a frame not pertinent to the present invention. Extending bet-ween table end plates 22 and 23 are two bed rails 20 and 21 in the form of steel tubes of rectangular cross section.

Stretched loosely between the bed rails 20 and 21, but not pertinent to the invention being claimed, and hence not shown in the drawings, is a black plastic light shield transparent to X-rays, and covering the black plastic light shield is a flexible plastic cover, which may preferably he Mylar. The function of the black plastic light shield is merely to prevent the patient from looking down through the floor, and the function of the Mylar cover is to provide the light shield with a cover of sufficient strength to carry any downward force exerted by the patients arms and shoulders. So far as the present invention is concerned, the black plastic light shield and the flexible Mylar cover are of no consequence.

Each of the upright steel end plates 22 and 23 of the table is provided with a slot, 122 and 123, respectively, and through the slots 122 and 123 project the trunnions 42 and 43, respectively. As has already been described, trunnion 42 is secured to the upright steel end plate 32 at the head end of the basket 30, and trunnion 43 is secured to upright steel end plate 33 at the foot end of the basket. Trunnions 42 and 43 are adapted to be driven rotationally by means shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and later to the described, and rotation of the trunnions 42 and 43 rotates the basket 30 through the desired angle.

In FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, the basket 30 is illustrated as being in its normal position, which is also the position shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, the cam rail 24 at the head end of the table is shown supporting the cam follower 134. The cam rail 24 is also supporting the follower 34 but the cam follower 34 is not visible in FIG. 3. Both followers are, however, seen in FIG. 6.

In FIG. 4, cam rail 25 at the foot end of the table is shown supporting cam follower 138. Rail 25 is also supporting follower 38, but follower 38 is not visible in FIG. 4. Both followers are, however, seen in FIG. 5.

At the head end of the table, the end of trunnion 42 which protrudes outwardly from slot 122 is journalled in a steel pivot arm 44, as best seen in FIG. 6, and at the foot end of the table, the end of trunnion 43 which protrudes outwardly from slot 123 is journalled in a similar steel pivot arm 45, as best seen in FIG. 5.

The steel arms 44 and 45 function primarily as pivotal guide members. They extend from the trunnions 42 and 43 to shafts 64 and 74, respectively. Shaft 64 is mounted for rottaion in end plate 22 at the head end of the table, and shatf 74 is mounted for rotation in end plate 23 at the foot end of the table.

Pivot arms 44 and 45 also provide some measure of support for basket 30, but the principal support for the basket 30 is provided by the cam followers, one or more of which are always in'engage-ment with the cam ralis 24 and 25 at the head and foot end of .the table. The principal function of the pivot arms 44 and 45 is to guide the trunnions 42 and 43 up through the slots 122 and 123 as the patient basket is being rotated and cammed upwardly, and to guide the trunnions 42 and 43 down through the slots 122 and 123 when the patient basket is returned from a position such as is shown in FIG. 2 to its normal position such as is shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, these figures show the drive means for rotating the patient rotator basket. FIG. 7 shows the drive means at the head end of the table, while FIG. 8 shows the drive means at the foot end of the table.

Referring now first to FIG. 7, a reversible motor 50 is mounted on the upright steel end plate 22 of the table, as in a housing 19 such as is shown in FIG. 3. The motor 50 drives an output shaft 51 which is connected to reduction gearing 52 which drives an output shaft 53. A sprocket 54 fixed on shaft 53 drives a chain 55 which in turn drives a sprocket 56 fixed on the shaft of worm 57. The worm 57 engages with gear 58 which is fixed to a shaft 60. The shaft 60 is an elongated shaft which extends from the head end of the table through the hollow rectangular steel bed rail 21 to the foot end of the table. Thus, shaft 60 also appears at the foot end of the table, as shown in FIG. 8.

Referring again to FIG. 7, mounted on and fixed to the shaft 60 at the head end of the table is a sprocket 61 which through chain 62 drives a sprocket 63 mounted on a shaft 64. The reference numeral 65 identifies an idler or tension adjusting roller. Shaft 64 is journalled in the upright steel end plate 22. Also fixed to shaft 64 for rotation therewith is a second sprocket 66 which drives a chain 67 which in turn drives a sprocket 68 fixed to the trunnion shaft 42. In this manner, the trunnion shaft 42 at thehead end of the table is driven by the motor 50. Since the trunnion 42 is splined or otherwise secured to the upright steel end plate 32 of the patient rotator basket 30, it will be seen that the reversible motor 50 is connected to rotate the basket end plate 32 in one direction or the other according to the direction of rotation of the motor 50.

As previously indicated, the driven shaft 60 extends all the way through the hollow rectangular steel bed rail 21 from the head end to the foot end of the table. At the foot end of the table, seen in FIG. 8, the driven shaft 60 has fixed thereto a sprocket 71 which through a chain 72 drives a sprocket 73 fixed on a shaft 74. Reference numeral 75 identifies an idler or tension roller. Shaft 74 is journalled in the upright steel end plate 23 at the foot end of the table. Fixed on shaft 74 is a second sprocket 76 which drives the chain 77 which in turn drives a sprocket 78 fixed to the trunnion shaft 43. In this manner, the reversible motor 50 at the head end of the table also drives the trunnion shaft 43 at the foot end of the table.

It will be seen that if the driven shaft 60 is being driven clockwise, as viewed from the head end as in FIG. 1, the same shaft 60 will be rotating counterclockwise as viewed from the foot end, as in FIG. 8. Thus, if the motor 50 is rotating in a direction to drive the trunnion shaft 42 in a clockwise direction as viewed from the head end of the table, the trunnion shaft 43 is being simultaneously driven counter-clockwise as viewed from the foot end of the table. Thus, the end plates 32 and 33 at the head and foot ends of the basket are driven simultaneously in the same direction and to the same extent. The advantage of driving the basket at both ends is that it avoids the torsional stress which would other- Wise be imposed upon the plastic basket were it driven from one end only. The amount of the imposed torsional stress would, of course, vary with the weight of the patient, being greater for a heavier patient. As indicated, this stress is avoided by the dual driving means just described.

The table on which the basket 30 is supported is rotatable on its transverse axis in order that the patient may be presented to the X-ray field in horizontal, or vertical, or any intermediate position. When the table is being rotated, as for example when the head end is being raised and the foot end lowered, the head end of the table is subjected to a force tending to move the basket toward the table, whereas the foot end is subjected to a force tending to move the basket away from the table. Under such conditions, the weight of the basket at the foot end is removed from the cam rail 25 and the basket trunnion 43 tends to move up in its slot 123. This condition also exists at the head end when the table is being rotated in the opposite direction. To prevent a sudden shift of either of the trunnions 42 or 43 in their respective slots 122, 123, a fall-away prevention device is provided at each end of the table. Such devices are illustrated in side elevation in FIGS. 3 and 4, and one of the devices is shown in end elevational view in FIG. 9.

At the head end, shown in FIG. 3, the projecting end portion of the trunnion 42 has fixed thereto an arrowshaped cam 46 having a curving upper surface which is always in positive contact with a stop block 47 fixed to the end member 22. At the foot end, as shown in FIG. 4, a similar arrow-shaped cam 48 is fixed to the projecting end portion of the trunnion 43, the upper curved edge of the cam 48 being in constant positive contact with the stop block 49 secured to end member 23. When the trunnions 42 and 43 are rotated to rotate the basket 30 and the trunnions 42 and 43 are cammed upwardly in their respective slots 122 and 123, as previously described, the arrow-shaped earns 46 and 48 rotate, and the contours of the earns 46 and 48 are such that the cams maintain constant positive contact with the top blocks 47 and 49. By these means, the basket 30 is prevented from falling away from the table during rotation of the table. These means also prevent the basket from falling away from the table when the table is in a vertical position.

I have described one embodiment of my invention. Variations may, of course, be made without departing from my invention as hereinafter claimed. The end plates 22 and 23 of the table which have been indicated as made of steel, may preferably be made of aluminum, in which case the method of securing the cam rails to the end plates is other than by welding.

In the title, the term X-ray machine has been used to refer to the entire assembly of apparatus used in the X-ray examination, including the table and basket.

Having dsecribed my invention, I claim:

1. A rotatable patient basket apparatus for supporting a patient for X-ray examination, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a basket having a generally concave bottom wall,

opposing side walls, and head and foot end walls;-

(b) support plates outside of and substantially parallel to the head and foot end walls of said basket;

(c) a cam rail secured to each support plate;

((1) cam follower means secured to the head and foot end walls of said basket for engaging said cam rails;

(e) a trunnion secured to each of the head and foot end walls of said basket, the axis of the trunnions being coincident with the longitudinal axis of rotation of said basket;

(f) drive means for rotating said trunnions to rotate the basket about its longitudinal axis;

(g) said cam follower means during said rotation engaging said cam rail to raise or lower said trunnions relative to said cam rail, thereby to raise or lower the longitudinal axis of rotation of said basket.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the side walls of said basket are spaced from the axis of said trunnions a greater distance than said bottom wall, and in that said cam follower means are so spaced from said trunnions that when the basket is rotated about its longitudinal axis to a position in which the side walls of said basket are in the X-ray field the trunnions at each end are raised in equal amounts to a greater distance above said cam rails.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 characterized in that said cam follower means are spaced at varying distances from the axis of said trunnions according to the varying distance between said trunnion axis and the bottom and side walls of said basket.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said support plates are provided with slots through which said trunnions extend, and in that said drive means are connected to said trunnions on the outer sides of said support plates remote from said basket.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in that basket fall-away protection means are provided for constraining the free movement of said trunnions along said slots when said basket is rotated about its short transverse axis, said constraining means including a cam stop fixed to the support plate at each end of the basket and an arrow-shaped cam fixed on each of said trunnions, said cams maintaining constant contact with their associated cam stops as said cams rotate with the trunnions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,680,046 6/1954 Stava 250- FOREIGN PATENTS 1,045,790 12/1958 Germany. 1,112,808 8/1961 Germany.

RALPH G. NILSON, Primary Examiner S. C. SHEAR, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 12833 

